I am currently working on the travel guides for Banff, but I thought I would break up the Banff posts with a quick Seattle travel guide. This isn't going to be too in depth because I stayed at my sister's house and ate a lot of home cooked meals.
Pike Place Market
When I lived in Seattle, about 6 years ago, this was my favorite place to go and buy fresh flowers and produce! This trip was a little different for me because I was not able to shop for the items I used to shop for. We parked by the Convention Center and walked the five blocks down to the market and the water front. I enjoy this walk because you get to pass some of the major shopping in Downtown Seattle and the sights are just amazing.
Welcome to Pike Place Market!
Just a few of the bouquets from the multiple flower markets!
Looking down the main stretch of the market.
Oh the things you will see...
Standing in line at the First Starbucks!
Probably the freshest fish you will ever find!
Other Sights in Downtown Seattle
Our plan was to do a few more of our favorite places in Downtown Seattle, but we had a little too much fun at Pike's and almost ran out of time. We were going to head over to the Space Needle, to check out the new glass floor, but we knew we would be rushed and didn't want to rush through the experience. I've been up to the top a few times, but I would love to take the time to have dinner up there and just take it all in. We were also going to go to the MoPOP, which used to be the Experience Music Project, but again we would be pressed for time. MoPOP is the Museum of Pop Culture and from what I've heard, it's pretty awesome. Another one of my favorite things to do downtown is the Seattle Aquarium. I find it interesting to learn all about the life living under the Puget Sound. I've been there once, but I will be back again one day!
The Space Needle
Seattle Aquarium
Leavenworth
When I lived in Washington one of my favorite things to do was to go up into the mountains and visit a cute little Bavarian town called Leavenworth. This quaint little town is about 2 hours northeast of Seattle, but is worth every minute of the drive. They have the cutest little gift shops and some of the best German food around. Being a person who is 49% German, I am in heaven whenever I come here. This little town is great in any season, but during the holiday season they town is all lit up and is just an amazing experience.
Some of the views on the drive up
The maypole in the middle of town
How cute is this storefront!
Lunch Time!
Bratwurst Lunch
A painting on the wall of a building
Welcome to Leavenworth!
My favorite ice-cream shop!
Just a view of the cute shops!
Bellevue
On the east side of the Puget Sound, you have one of my favorite towns, Bellevue, WA! This would be like the Buckhead to Downtown Atlanta. If you are looking to stay more in a city atmosphere, this is where I would recommend. They have a great selection of hotels, a ton of restaurants and some amazing shopping.
Mom and I were supposed to stay at The Westin Bellevue on Friday night so we could enjoy the city for our last night, but the airline moved up our flight by over an hour, which made us cancel our reservation and move to a hotel near the airport. This hotel change didn't stop us from having a great time in Bellevue. After leaving Leavenworth we grabbed our bags, packed the rental car, and headed into Bellevue for a delicious dinner. My sister recommended we try Tavern Hall, which was not there when I lived in the area. We weren't originally planning on going to Tavern Hall, but after looking at the menu we decided we needed to give this place a try. The restaurant has a pub type feel and has a great food and drink selection. Mom ordered the grilled cheese and I ordered the spicy chicken sandwich, which did not disappoint. If I still lived in the area I would eat here a lot! We then enjoyed a walk through Bellevue Square and the only thing I didn't get to do was to grab some Top Pot Donuts before I left.
Views of Downtown Bellevue
If you have any questions about Seattle: where to eat? Where to stay? Definitely let me know and I will help you out. I promise the Banff travel guides will provide far more details and the first one will be up tomorrow!